Schmalkaldischer Bund (SchmBund)

Der Schmalkaldischer Bund is named in honor of the defensive alliance of Lutheran princes during the German reformation. Der Schm. Bund in the SFC universe is a league (not an empire). In the late winter of 2010, Der Schm. Bund formulated the following "Declaration of Values."

We, the members of Der Schmalkaldischer Bund, hold the following to be the core values which inform and undergird this alliance.

1) Mutual security -- none of us wants to get whacked. We know that the sharing of intel and ideas about how best to play the game increases mutual security. Group defense also advances mutual security. Even commerce advances mutual security as it aids the power to develop.

2) Peerage -- we reject hierarchic or paramilitary forms of organization, command, and control, affirming instead that we come into this alliance as equals.

3) Legal Minimalism -- Der Bund will only promulgate those policies and insist upon those SOPs which advance mutual security.

4) Voluntarism -- we come to this alliance as volunteers. No one is forced to join and no one is coerced into remaining. As such, members voluntary submit to the policies and SOPs of Der Bund, recognizing that they are free to disaffiliate at any time.

5) Self-restrained Autonomy -- we affirm that each member of the Bund is free to pursue that course of action which the member believes to be in his/her best interest, bounded only by fraternal concern for the mutual security of Der Bund and each of the other members.

Simply because the game mechanics require some structure, the following "ranks" can be found among us.

Mitglied -- member

Neuling -- a new member

Vierstelligemitgleid -- a member with a rank under 10K

Hauptmann -- Officer

Oberhauptmann -- Leader